Thursday, 29 October 2015

If you're not familiar with Jet Noir
you soon will be. The synth player for electro goth act Naked Lunch
has struck out on her own this year with two previous singles 'The
Scarlet Woman' and 'The Circle' which have created positive
rumblings. With an EP round the corner Noir has released a third
single showing off her mix of progressive gothic rock and trance in
the form of 'A Cold Day In Hell'.

Whereas the previous two
singles showcased a decidedly more electronic leaning, 'A Cold Day In
Hell' is an exercise in big gothic rock. Throbbing bass, subtle
electronics, heavy guitars and the ever present sensual vocals come
together to create a powerful combination that flips expectations
around. It displays strong blends of melody, atmosphere and
arrangements that hint at a lot more to come.

The single is
completed by three remixes from Attrition, Dean Baker (Cloak) and
Ruinizer who all add aq different spin to the original with ease.
Attrition add a nice old school darkwave veneer to it that is
wonderfully addictive. Dean Baker delves into ebm and trance
territory which ups its dance appeal. Finally Ruinizer knock it into
leftfield with a deconstructed blend of aggrotech and urban appeal.

The production is strong and walks the line between a classic
gothic atmosphere and modern sheen. It is a combination that works
really well and is able to switch between sultry and scathing with
ease.

'A Cold Day In Hell' is perhaps the most exciting
single so far from Jet Noir. It's blend of genres, progressive
elements and atmospher is executed perfectly. The song is strong
throughout showing great writing and performance and it should
hopefully have a lot of people sit up and take notice.

Wednesday, 28 October 2015

It is
undeniable that Christian Death made a major mark on the
international gothic and death rock scenes. Whether it was under the
leadership of Rozz Williams or Valor Kand, both line-ups produced
some iconic records such as 'Only Theatre Of Pain', 'Ashes', and
'Sex, And Drugs, And Jesus Christ' to name only a few. Valor Kand
successfully held fast with the band giving it a more metal overhaul
in the 90s that worked well over a few albums. Yet, since the turn of
the millennium that band has existed mainly as a touring band with
only two albums released in that time, 2007's lacklustre 'American
Inquisition' and this years new offering 'The Root Of All Evilution'.

The latest album was the subject of a successful crowdfunding
campaign which shows that the band still has a core of fans ready and
eager to hear new material. But does it live up to their most
influential albums?

The opening track finds the and in almost
prog rock with an extended spoken intro that sets up the apocalyptic
conceptual arc of the album before breaking into a bout of thin
gothic rock. Its a poor start, but thankfully the eastern themed
'This Cross' with its exotic instrumentation and tribal drumming
brings things into focus in classic Christian Death fashion.

'Tar
Black Liquid' is another track that has that classic Christian Death
feel that fans will undoubtedly be craving – Maitri's vocals sound
as sumptuous as ever while the straightforward gothic/death rock
construction could sit next to any of the band's 80's/90's output
with ease. Tracks such as 'Fema Coffins', 'Illuminazi', 'Forgiven'
and 'Deliver Us' follow suit with that classic sound keeping the
focus on the band's fundamentals.

The electronic elements at
work on 'We Have Become' are an unexpected, but not unwelcome change
of pace that makes for a great stand-out track. The closing track
'Secrets Down Below' also makes subtle use of this to give an extra
element to another fine cut.

The production / mix isn't
always great, but Christian death have only two modes; opulent or
stripped back, and when they embrace these fully everything else just
seems to click into place.

The opener may have been a bit
shaky, and the visual elements may be looking a little outdated and
cliché these days. But below all of that is a pretty good album that
is a more satisfying listen that the band's last outing, and it could
even be touted as a return to form. It may not reach the heights of
their classic/infamous material, but 'The Root Of All Evilution'
proves that Christian Death are still relevant and still have a place
in 2015.

VARIOUS ARTISTS 'Scary Music To Play
In The Dark Vol. II' NIGH† †ERRORS

Just in time for
Halloween Nigh† †errors, the record label arm of the YouTube
radio station Nightmares and 808s, returns with another free
compilation of dark underground electronics certain to add some
spooky atmosphere to your Samhain celebrations.

It isn't the
longest compilation with just seven tracks in total, however it is
more of a case of quality over quantity. Witch house, dark, and
occult electronics collide for a subtle, spooky and occasionally
psychedelic playlist.

First up is Ukraine's SVGAWA with
'Annelise' with it's opening Exorcist sample giving way to a
down-beat stuttering rhythm and simple spooky bass that is suddenly
pierced by the lead melody in a way that evokes the shower scene in
Psycho. Damn Whore follow on with 'Frank Young' with a more subtle
stuttering beat this time with a more discernible hip hop flavour to
it mixed with some wonderfully dark and deep bass.

Flesh's
eight-minute long 'Delirium' is a stunning centrepiece which opens
with a nice choral sample that fades into a slow ambient leaning
track, building in a way that recalls a much darker Enigma before the
more overt witchy elements creep in. △Sco△'s 'Crystal
Witches' in comparison is a shorter, sharper and more straightforward
glitchy witchy track that has a nice melody and steady dance-friendly
beat that will get bodies moving.

'Lilac' by
Foxwedding and remixed by Resonata is a nice light, but creepy track
that utilises vocal samples as rhythmic devices to create a
disturbing psychedelic feeling that would be right at home on the
American Horror Story soundtrack. The Compilation is then rounded-off
by the stunning 'Death By Stereo' from Sunset Architects which starts
by leaning towards dark ambience with its hanging chords, subtle
beats and atmospheric samples but soon switches gear into a
stripped-down witch house style that is very effective.

This
is another solid compilation from Nigh† †errors that shows off
some very talented underground acts. Once again with it being free it
should just as attractive to those looking to satisfy their curiosity
about this particular branch of electronics as fans looking for new
stuff to fill up their play lists. Despite its short length it is
well curated and the end result is a pleasure to listen to.

Tuesday, 27 October 2015

It is that time of
year again children of the night. The nights are getting longer, the
moon is full and all those nasty things that go bump in the night are
coming out to play! Of course by that I mean it is time for
Halloween, which luckily falls on a Saturday this year! That means
you can take longer to get ready and still have all of Sunday to
recover... depending on what it is you'll be getting up to of
course.

If you're still not sure what there is to do this
Halloween, don't worry. We here at Intravenous Magazine have once
again accumulated a big list of suggestions to give you a few ideas
no matter who... or what you are! If you want to head out and do the
monster mash at a club, we have a few ideas. Want to head to the
cinema? There's some great looking films out right now. Want to stay
in with a good book or DVD? We've got you covered. Want something
more family friendly? Yep, we've even taken that into consideration.

So without further ado here are our picks for Halloween
2015...

A
Compendium Of Terror...

First off we have some features
from our crypt to get you in the mood while you're getting ready to
get your costume on and head out to terrorise the town...

As we say every
year, we here at Intravenous Magazine are big supporters of Neil
Gaiman's All Hallow's Read project which promotes the giving of scary
books as a gift every Halloween. So every year we like to recommend a
few scary books that you can pick up to read alone or with friends
this Halloween.

'Rawblood' – Catriona Ward
In 1910,
eleven year old Iris Villarca lives with her father at Rawblood, a
lonely house on Dartmoor. Iris and her father are the last of their
name. The Villarcas always die young, bloodily. Iris knows it’s
because of a congenital disease which means she must be strictly
isolated. Papa told her so. Forbidden to speak to other children or
the servants, denied her one friend, Iris grows up in solitude. But
she reads books. And one sunlit autumn day, beside her mother’s
grave, she forces the truth from her father. The disease is
biologically impossible. A lie, to cover a darker secret.

'Monster' – C.J. Skuse
At sixteen Nash
thought that the fight to become Head Girl of prestigious boarding
school Bathory would be the biggest battle she’d face. Until her
brother’s disappearance leads to Nash being trapped at the school
over Christmas with Bathory’s assorted misfits. As a blizzard rages
outside, strange things are afoot in the school’s hallways, and
legends of the mysterious Beast of Bathory – a big cat rumoured to
room the moors outside the school – run wild. Yet when the girls’
Matron goes missing it’s clear that something altogether darker is
to blame – and that they’ll have to stick together if they hope
to survive.

'The Darkness On His Bones' – Barbara Hambly
When James Asher is found unconscious in the cemetery of the
Church of St. Clare Pieds-Nus with multiple puncture-wounds in his
throat and arms, his wife, Lydia, knows of only one person to call:
the vampire Don Simon Ysidro. Old friend and old adversary, he is the
only one who can help Lydia protect her unconscious, fevered husband
from the vampires of Paris.

'The Damned' – Tarn Richardson
1914.
The outbreak of war. In the French city of Arras, a Father is
brutally murdered. The Catholic Inquisition - still powerful, but now
working in the shadows - sends its most determined and unhinged of
Inquisitors, Poldek Tacit to investigate: his mission to protect the
Church from those who would seek to undermine it, no matter what the
cost.

'A Head Full Of Ghosts' – Paul Tremblay
The
lives of the Barretts, a normal suburban New England family, are torn
apart when fourteen-year-old Marjorie begins to display signs of
acute schizophrenia.To her parents’ despair, the doctors are unable
to stop Marjorie’s descent into madness. As their stable home
devolves into a house of horrors, they reluctantly turn to a local
Catholic priest for help. Father Wanderly suggests an exorcism; he
believes the vulnerable teenager is the victim of demonic possession.
He also contacts a production company that is eager to document the
Barretts’ plight. With John, Marjorie’s father, out of work for
more than a year and the medical bills looming, the family agrees to
be filmed, and soon find themselves the unwitting stars of The
Possession, a hit reality television show. When events in the Barrett
household explode in tragedy, the show and the shocking incidents it
captures become the stuff of urban legend.

'The Fifth House Of the Heart' – Ben Tripp
Asmodeus “Sax” Saxon-Tang, a vainglorious and
well-established antiques dealer, has made a fortune over many years
by globetrotting for the finest lost objects in the world. Only Sax
knows the true secret to his success: at certain points of his life,
he’s killed vampires for their priceless hoards of treasure.
But
now Sax’s past actions are quite literally coming back to haunt
him, and the lives of those he holds most dear are in mortal danger.
To counter this unnatural threat, and with the blessing of the Holy
Roman Church, a cowardly but cunning Sax must travel across Europe in
pursuit of incalculable evil—and immeasurable wealth—with a
ragtag team of mercenaries and vampire killers to hunt a terrifying,
ageless monster…one who is hunting Sax in turn.

'Little Girls' – Ronald Malfi
When
Laurie was a little girl, she was forbidden to enter the room at the
top of the stairs. It was one of many rules imposed by her cold,
distant father. Now, in a final act of desperation, her father has
exorcised his demons. But when Laurie returns to claim the estate
with her husband and ten-year-old daughter, it’s as if the past
refuses to die. She feels it lurking in the broken moldings, sees it
staring from an empty picture frame, hears it laughing in the moldy
greenhouse deep in the woods…

'Troll Hunters' – Guillermo del Toro &Daneil Kraus
Jim Sturges is your typical teen in suburban San
Bernardino-one with an embarrassingly overprotective dad, a best
friend named "Tubby" who shares his hatred of all things
torturous (like gym class), and a crush on a girl who doesn't know he
exists. But everything changes for Jim when a 45-year old mystery
resurfaces, threatening the lives of everyone in his seemingly sleepy
town. Soon Jim has to team up with a band of unlikely (and some
un-human) heroes to battle the monsters he never knew existed.

'The Silence' – Tim Lebbon
In the darkness of a vast cave system,
cut off from the world for millennia, blind creatures hunt by sound.
Then there is light, there are voices, and they feed... Swarming from
their prison, they multiply and thrive. To scream, even to whisper,
is to summon death.
Deaf for many years, Ally knows how to live in
silence. Now, it is her family's only chance of survival. To leave
their home, to shun others, to find a remote haven where they can sit
out the plague. But will it ever end? And what kind of world will be
left?

Evil Visions...
We've already given
you a definitive run-down of our 50 favourite horror films of all
time. But there are plenty more new cuts on offer on DVD and in the
cinema this year. If you're the kind of person whou would spend
Halloween under a blanket watching a scary film, here are some new
ones worth checking out.

If
you're a party animal who relishes the chance to get out on the town
every Halloween, but haven't made up your mind as to where to spend
your night yet, we've got some club nights across the UK to
recommend.

That is just a little taste
of some of the great and ghastly goings on that can be found up and
down the country this week, but there are many more. So please
consult your local papers, event guides, Facebook and anywhere else
that may advertise events and support them. However if you're not
feeling socially inclined this year, you can always check out the
various podcasts, films and books that we have recommended. But no
matter how you choose to spend your night, we here at Intravenous
Magazine would like to wish you a very happy Halloween.

As
someone related to living history and historical re-enactment
enthusiasts Osprey Publishing's illustrated books covering the
various uniforms of different military eras have been a common sight
for a long time. The illustrations are always detailed and as
accurate as information and primary sources allow, and with
accompanying text to give further depth they are a valuable go-to
guide for anyone wanting to put together a look for historical
events, or just for the stitch-counting anoraks of the world. Their
appeal as a range of books is pretty niche, however they

The
new title, 'Steampunk Soldiers: Uniforms And Weapons From The Age Of
Steam' takes a sharp turn into anachronistic waters to add a little
fantasy to their otherwise factual range. The titles spells it out
quite clearly what the content is. Steampunk uniforms given the
Osprey treatment with a little bit of statistics and alternative
history added to keep it in line with their other publications.

The
book is centred around the manufactured back-story of British
art student Miles Vandercroft, and the illustrations he made as he
travelled the world between 1887 and 1895 to document the rise of
steam power after the discovery of a new element “Hephaestium”
and its subsequent effect on modern warfare. Which is a pretty loose
and mildly amusing set-up that doesn't really put too much bearing on
the end result.

Broken down country-by-country the book looks
at the uniforms, and equipment of various units and battalions that
existed in the steampunk age. Real empires and nations undergo a
subtle blending of fact and fiction to add weight to the re-imagined
history that would actually be the perfect foundation for an actual
novel series.

The book's biggest selling points however are
the beautiful and often gritty illustrations by Mark Stacey. They are
as detailed as any other uniform guide in the Osprey range and by
blending actual expectations of uniforms of the time and adding a
steampunk twist that is practical rather than the usual cogs for the
sake of cogs look that has taken over they compliment the realism the
written accompaniment strives for.

It is a great book,
written with authority and illustrated with great care. It presents
itself like any other uniform guide, but is a little more fun for the
hell of it. Fans of steampunk, alternate history, cosplay, and live action role players
will undoubtedly find this not only appealing but very useful. But as
with similar books of this type, the appeal will not be great beyond
that... even the historical accuracy police will probably not find
anything here to grab them.

But at the end of the day it is a
fun, parody of sorts with some great artwork, even if it is only for
a niche audience.

Wednesday, 21 October 2015

Neil Gaiman's 'The Sandman' is one of
the greatest comics ever. I'm sorry if you disagree, but it is a
fact. For a child in the north of England whose only real exposure to
comics was in the form of 'The Beano', it was a revelation finding
'The Sandman' in the graphic novels section of Scunthorpe Central
Library and for the first time showed me what the medium was truly
capable of conveying.

Gaiman created a rich, dark fantasy
world with all the intellectual and whimsical prowess that he infused
into his later novels to tell the story of the Dream King Morpheus
and his siblings, The Endless, as they interact with human affairs
over the centuries. It isn't just naughty kids getting away with the
things we wish we could, or the usual battle of superhero and
super-villain. Instead 'The Sandman' series deals with deep issues in
a a compelling, complex and dramatic way. Always ably abetted by a
host of phenomenal artists, it is easy to see why after 25 years,
this series is held in such high esteem.

'The Sandman:
Overture' is a six issue prequel series, finally compiled together in
a deluxe hardback book, that looks at the events leading up to
Morpheus' imprisonment as we find him at the start of the first part
of 'Preludes And Nocturnes'. Gaiman, now 25 years more experienced
and renowned as a fantasy writer, delves deep into the story, weaving
a story that spans time and space and connects to a lot of later
threads in the tale, yet manages to stay on track with an end in
sight.

We see not only how Morpheus got into the afore
mentioned situation when we were first introduced to him, but also
see the origins of The Corinthian, the creation of The Dreaming and
Morpheus' War Helm. The book sees not only cameos from well-loved
characters such as the rest of The Endless, Lucien, Merv Pumkinhead,
Mad Hettie, and also introduces new characters that will undoubtedly
leave a lasting impression on fans.

Despite the wonderfully
rich story, with it's comic format it is very accessible and easy to
follow, even if you haven't delved into the rest of the series yet.
To this end the stunning artwork of JH Williams III ('Batwoman',
'Promethea') adds a great detail. As mentioned before, 'The Sandman'
has always featured great artwork, but some of Williams' work in
'...Overture' is beyond stunning. Coupled with the work of Dave
Stewart, Todd Klein, and the return of Dave McKean it lives up to the
legacy. Quite simply, some of the design elements cannot be done
justice in words and really need to be seen to be fully appreciated.

It is arguable that '...Overture' is an unnecessary extension
to an already pretty perfect series. But once you get reading it, you
are reminded by just how many questions you had after the series
ended. '...Overture' answers them and adds even more depth to an
already inspired universe. The subtitle 'Overture' isn't just a
buzzword for the sake of it. This series is a grand declaration
before the story plays out in full, echoing, predicting and yet still
complete as it's own movement within the fuller story arc.

'The
Sandman: Overture' is another great example from Gaiman and his team
as to what the comic medium can truly accomplish. The epic scope, and
intricate plot, the sumptuous artwork all come together to create a
worthy addition to the series. If you haven’t' experienced the
series yet. This is a good place to start. If you're a long-time fan,
you won't be disappointed.

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Given the past relationship
between Rise Above Records (owned by former Cathedral vocalist Lee
Dorrian), and Electric Wizard (whose founding rhythm section
comprised of Tim Bagshaw and Mark Greening) having been a tempestuous
one, the coming together of individual members of new doom metal trio
With The Dead seemed like one of those “when hell freezes over”
prospects. But nevertheless it has come to pass and the end result is
a heavy dose of real doom that sees the distinctive voice of Dorrian
set to the rhythmic talents that gave us 'Dopethrone'.

With
such accomplished work in every member's respective discographies, it
is evident that With The Dead is a band that has nothing to prove and
is free from the shackles of everything that has come before it. Yet this isn't about resting on their laurels. With The Dead want to craft their own identity and have one hell of an album with to do it.

Opening with the blisteringly heavy 'Crown Of Burning Stars' the
album asserts itself through a barrage of fuzzy riffs, thick bass,
bludgeoning drums and anguished vocals. 'The Cross' follows on with a
nice Sabbath-flavoured opening before descending into a meandering
nightmare punctured by Dorrian's demented vocals. 'Nephthys' provides
the album with its accessible centrepiece with it's nice pace, great
riff and evocative lyrics it is a great introduction to not only the
band but the genre as a whole.

Next is the semi self-titled
'Living With The Dead' with it's oppressive atmosphere and choking
riffs it is a perfect summary of everything at work on this album. 'I
Am Your Virus' swings into sludge territory with it's crusty lead
riff, while subtle psychedelic effects it continues to amp up the
brutal heaviness before hitting the brakes for a melodic interlude
before the final beating. Rounding off the album is 'Screams From My
Own Grave', a final valuable lesson in heavy that opens with a solo
funeral doom drum line before the dense guitars hit, adding a little
drone, and a lot more of those tortured vocals to put the exclamation
point on the proceedings.

The album is grim, heavy, eerie and
crushingly brilliant. There is fuzz on just about everything and the
dominance of the different instruments varies a little from each song
to the next creating interesting dynamics. But even with all this
sheer brutality it remains melodic where it needs to, and nothing
gets drowned out in the mix.

This is a stunning début from
three veterans of the doom genre that acknowledges their past work,
but seriously amps it up. The eerie atmospheres, use of samples, and
that ever present pressure from the guitars is a simple but
wonderfully effective combination that has set the bar just that
little bit higher. Hopefully With The Dead will become a mainstay of
the doom genre for years to come.

Monday, 19 October 2015

Despite not having released a studio album in 25 years, this
hasn't stopped Andrew Eldritch and his Sisters Of Mercy from touring
nearly every year since. As a studio act the band crafted three
individual albums that have each gone on to spawn wave after wave of
imitators in the years since; 'First And Last And Always' (which
celebrates its 30th anniversary this year) with it's icy
guitars and mechanical beats defined gothic rock. The Wagnerian
synth-driven 'Floodland' in 1987 took the band to top 40 success in
several countries. While 1990's 'Vision Thing' with it's hard rock
guitars ensured their place as an international act.

Fast-forward
to 2015 and the band now comprised of Andrew Eldritch, Ben Christo
and Chris Catalyst are still packing the faithful in with ease. There
may be criticisms levelled at Eldritch that his voice has lost it's
range, and that the reworked classics have lost some of their
original charm. But that is by the by. Eldritch has always been more
comfortable with his baritone croon than with trying to hit the high
notes, so at 56 it is unsurprising that he has dispensed with them
entirely. And as for the reworked songs... the fact that this tour
sold out in advance says it all.

First up tonight at the cosy
Rock City venue in Nottingham is Leeds band Black Moth. With a heavy
does of 'Vol. 4' era Black Sabbath in their sound it seems like an
unusual fit for a Sisters support slot. However keep in mind the
sisters did tour once with Public Enemy. The female fronted doom
metal / classic rock act only have half-an-hour, but they use it
wisely converting a large swathe of the audience with ease. Thirty
minutes wasn't enough to do Black Moth the justice they deserved.
Their skilful riffing, key changes and tempo switches were a pleasure
to see live. It is a faultless performance from the entire band.

The Sisters Of Mercy take to the stage promptly through a
haze of backlit dry ice to the throbbing bass and rhythms of 'Kiss
The Carpet'. The set is comprised of a nice spread of classics with
particular attention paid to the earlier material as the likes of
'Body Electric', 'Alice', 'No Time To Cry', 'First and Last And
Always', and 'Valentine' sit comfortably next to their unreleased
recent works 'Crash And Burn', and 'Arms'. The Sisterhood's 'Jihad'
is a welcome inclusion, as are the rousing renditions of 'Ribbons',
'Dr Jeep/Detonation Boulevard', 'Flood II' and 'Dominion/Mother
Russia'.

The band are on top form, Andrew Eldritch delivers a
strong vocal performance and engages with the audience throughout the set. The first of
two encores crams in a power ballad reworking of '1959', which
Eldritch predicts “we will hate” yet it still receives a big
ovation from the crowd. 'This Corrosion' and 'Temple Of Love' follow on and enjoy
some of the loudest sing-along moments of the night.

The
second encore keeps to the last two albums with 'Lucretia My
Reflection', 'Vision Thing' and 'More' closing the set in a big way.
The response from the crowd is rapturous. The energy is high, the
atmosphere is electric throughout and the band feed off it. As Eldritch perfectly sums the
evening up before leaving the stage for the last time; “We have
played a lot of gigs. But tonight... Tonight was a party”.

Despite 25 years since a new album, The Sisters Of Mercy seem
to be enjoying themselves more than ever. The songs feel well
developed, the performance was tight and well rehearsed, and the
execution was everything that you could have wanted. There is a
reason they can still draw a crowd and it is evident for all to see
tonight.

Friday, 16 October 2015

October is here once
again, and there is a chill both in the air and down the collectives
spines of anyone interested in darker subcultures. No other time of
year is so evocative of the spooky, the ghoulish and the occult than
October, as the shortening of the day and the ageing of the year lead
towards the fire rituals of November and the eventual winter
solstice; not only is it the time of year for grey skies, billowing
winds, falling leaves and thunderstorms but also the time of year
where pre-Halloween frenzy sits in. The shops are now pleasingly full
of bats, fangs, skulls, skeletons, ghosts, fake blood, chains,
cauldrons, pumpkins and zombies. For the goths it's probably no
surprise that this is the time of year where we do our domestic
shopping.

Of course Halloween
itself, based on pagan celebrations, acts as ghoulish hub for the
month. But is this the time of the year when we begin to feel a
stronger affinity with the essence of older, arcane myths and of
forgotten ritual, especially in the north? It is often said that
autumn has a poetry to it, but what is it that brings a turn to the
eerie in our collective psyche? It can't simply be the fact that it
gets darker in October – after all things get progressively darker
from the summer and darker still later in the year. So what is it in
the air when October arrives?

In Susanna Clarke's
'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell' she creates an England based on a
brilliantly simple premise – that the primal folk myths of northern
England were based on a kind of magical reality. This is an
intriguing launchpad to a bigger question: what kind of relationship
exists between the contemporary gothic culture and the dark folk
myths and arcane beliefs that surround it?

For example – if we
may take my manor, Leeds. It has long been the home for gothic music
and culture, especially during the drabulous '80s when the city
centre streets were grey-black and gentrification was but a distant
dream. But just 10 miles outside of the city centre are expanses of
countryside with their own tales, superstitions, beliefs; and even
further north there are the Yorkshire Moors, where barghests, ghouls
and hobgoblins roam the night. Indeed, Ingrid Barton's 'North
Yorkshire Folk Tales', and the Wray/Marshall/Firth compendiums 'The
Haunted Coast' and 'The Witches of North Yorkshire' are full of
examples of such myths. So to what extent is urban, cultural gothic
merely a reflection of a more regional darkness based in the
countryside that surround the cities?

So this Halloween,
venture forth – go to haunted houses, investigate your local myths
and places of dark interest and dig under the urban veneer to find
the primal, beating heart of October. Westwood & Simpson's 'The
Lore of the Land' is a good place to start to find where those darker
echoes can be found near where you are, whether that is in Norwich,
Edinburgh, London or Blackpool. Bring a flask and a notebook too. And
then maybe when you're decking your home out in appropriately
seasonal decoration you may get that echo of recognition for the
pagan – and after all, that is where Halloween began.

Thursday, 15 October 2015

Stockholm's
V▲LH▲LL are an undeniably impressive act. Formed in 2012 they
have fast become one of the most impressive underground electronic
acts around today despite only having a few releases to their name.
Their début full-length release last year on Artoffact Records,
'Leaning On Shadows' was a triumphant blend of atmospheric
songwriting incorporating elements of witch house, neofolk, dark
ambient and industrial. Just in time for Halloween comes the band's
new single 'Vi††ΞЯS†ЯåK' which features two tracks of
dissonant dark ambiance to send shivers down your spine.

Track
one, 'Vi††ΞЯS†ЯåK Part 1: An Entrance' creaks and crackles
into life as light metallic noises, breathy drones, and scratches
eventually give way to a simple rhythm that fades in and out of life.
The track gradually builds into more complex and witch house
flavoured rhythms as it goes on transmogrifying the song from noise
to nightmarish industrial.

Track two, 'Vi††ΞЯS†ЯåK
Part 2: Did You Hear Something' begins with a pleasing ambient drone
over watery sounds occasionally permeated by sinister strings. Light
percussive noises begin to appear and unintelligible whispers float
up through the mix. The track then suddenly veers into an assault of
electronic beats which bring the song into rhythmic noise territory
before fading back into the atmospheric sounds.

At thirteen
minutes and eleven minutes long respectively the band give you plenty
to get stuck into. The slow evolution of the tracks and subtle shifts
throughout are closer to a classical arrangement rather than an
electronic one. And with the heavy use of atmospheric and ambient
elements it builds into a cohesive soundscape that could easily score
a short and disturbing film.

The production, despite the
occasional noise leanings, is pretty open and clean. The emphasis is
on atmosphere and that is exactly what you get. A great cavernous
sense of space that slowly closes in as you go from one movement to
another.

This is another great release from V▲LH▲LL that
continues to show off their skill and diversity. They seamlessly span
experimental and more accessible genres and can craft exquisitely
haunting atmospheres with ease. 'Vi††ΞЯS†ЯåK' is Halloween
friendly scary music in a non cliché way that shows a real mastery
of sound, melody and rhythm. Hopefully the band will follow this up
soon with another full-length album to show the full scope of their
abilities again.

Wednesday, 14 October 2015

"Halloween is my favourite time of the year" says just about anyone I know, whether it be a close friend, or some random person I may or may not meet at one or the other of my past or present day jobs, who seemingly feels the need to share this piece of information about their lives with me. And they may be telling me this around Halloween time, or not. Point is, they see a goth girl, and they're more than willing to share their love for Halloween with me.

Which is fine. Awesome, actually. But also hilarious. See, to us goths and punks and rockabilly boys and belles, every day is Halloween, and every night, even more so. Same goes for any kind of stage performer who actually puts on a show by, like me, bringing along a suitcase with the wildest, most beautiful clothing, accessories and makeup to every venue, no matter how small it is. Putting on a face, and a costume, becomes a regular thing, and Halloween becomes this exquisite, utmost celebration of the Glamour, the Shadow-side, and the Living and the Dead.

However, for people who aren't into alternative culture and will tell me that Halloween is their favourite time of the year, it almost seems as though it becomes this occasion for this very special, hidden part of themselves to rise and show itself through the light of the candle in the carved pumpkin head. I always tend to be very delightfully surprised, as my first impression of them is that they seem more like the kind of people who'd get easily scared by Halloween, or anything "dark", really. And then I begin to Wonder Why.

Why is this person dressed in grey and beige and pale blue rejoicing so much in their opportunity once a year to dress up, and be something, or someone, they're not?
I wonder about their upbringing. I wonder about what they believe in. I wonder about the sacred kingdoms in their heads and in their hearts. I wonder about their sex lives. I wonder what they write in their journals, or what they would write, if they had one.
And I wonder about their relationship with fashion.

Clothes are, after all, something you put on every day. Why not make them a beautiful, fun expression of yourself -why not have this fabulous relationship with that which you'll be seen with over and over again? Why save this beautiful and fun experience with clothing for Halloween only?
I guess it comes down to how curious you are about ways to express yourself, and how deep your need to express yourself is. And how much effort you are willing to put everyday in looking your very best self. Then again, if you're a lover of DIY style like I am, it's never an effort, and always a party.

The other day, someone was telling me how much he enjoyed making himself look really sharp -fancy suit, ironed shirt and all, but how rare it seemed to him that occasions to dress up came about, in this day and age. I smiled and replied to him that you just have to make the occasion happen, and that any date, or dinner with friends, thus easily becomes an opportunity to be your classiest, sassiest, or sexiest self.

You don't have to wait for Halloween to have fun being yourself, you can do it every day.

And as for the tantalizing darkness and spookiness of this time of the year, well, if you can't spook yourself, how the Hell are you gonna spook somebody else?

The mysteries and celebrations of Mabon, Samhain, Devil's Night, All Hallows' Eve, and El Dia de los Muertos strike a chord in anyone who's got an older soul, who can see the shimmering lights in the darkness that envelops and embellishes the land 'round this time of the year. Seems like the glory of the Fall gets everyone in the mood to pop out and strut out their glamorous, darker selves.

Now, don't confuse your Shadow-self with your Evil self. The Evil self is really the Ego-self, that we should all make a point of learning how to tame, and wear more as adornment than as pride.
The Shadow-self is that aspect of yourself that is a reflection, and execution, of your own mysticism. Embrace the shadows, and yourself within them, for it is but another facet of your diamond-self, from which you can grasp and understand so many thing about yourself.

It is, after all, just you, still you, the beautiful, real you, with a dash of spooky, and a side of sexy.

Tuesday, 13 October 2015

First Aid 4 Souls is
one of those acts that should be more of a common name than they are.
The brainchild of Istvan Gazdag, First Aid 4 Souls has dabbled in
just about every electronic genre you can imagine across a succession
of solid album releases. The latest offering sees Gazdag and a group
of guest vocalists, including Balazs Frank (V.e.N.), Aaron Russell
(Impurfekt), and George Mortum Turoczy (Human Vault), swing back into
old school ebm territory for 'Smile No More'.

The album is
solidly rooted in a combination of melodic synths, dance-friendly
beats and steady paces with the occasional permeation dark and
ambient textures into the mix. The end result is definitely old
school ebm, but with that undeniable FA4S mark that Gazdag can't help
but leave. There are the usual nods to the classic bands of the
genre, but 'Smile No More' asserts itself as an independent entity
throughout.

Songs such as 'Chaos Cultist', 'Alien Implant',
'No More Smile', and 'Fortress' in particular distil the best of the
genre through the out-of-the-box thinking of Gazdag and into a
distinct delivery that makes good use of elements such as live drums,
guitars and different vocalists to add variety and depth.

The
production has a distinctly old school feel to it that reflects the
subject matter. While it does sound appropriate for the material, it
isn't as crisp and modern as some of the previous FA4S albums have
delivered, and so doesn't quite sound like it has delved into its
full potential, however it works regardless.

This is a nice
EP that shows off yet another side to First Aid 4 Souls as an
electronic product. It may not have the big ambient, psychedelic or
more complex elements that we're used to from previous releases, but
it sets out to do old school ebm, and in the end it does it damn
well.

Another release from the depths of
Victor Love's seemingly endless archive of sonic goodies comes
Hacking The Wave, namely the début of this musical hack 'The Dome'.
Differing significantly in terms for style from Dope Stars Inc. And
Victor Love's new solo material, but still exploring the sprawl of
cyberpunk as an umbrella genre, Hacking The Wave is glitch, chiptune,
8-bit, industrial and synth metal that results in some great crazy
tunes that still make room for some of that anthemic rock that Love
is known for with DSI.

The guitars are thin and grating, the
rhythms simple and stripped down, and the synths sound somewhat
low-fi. But put them together and it works very nicely especially
when the clean vocals inject a nice melody over the more
rock-orientated constructed songs. Perhaps the closest comparison
would be Ultraviolence without the gabber elements. It's
stripped-back, to the point and unashemedly catchy. Memorable tracks
include 'Hacking The Wave', 'Illusions', 'The Dome', 'Mountains Of
Sand', 'Faith', and 'Party like It's 2019', which veer from chiptune
to synth metal and cyber-dance with ease.

The album adds a
new twist to the styles we've come to expect from Victor Love, yet it
feels familiar and continues to show off the depths of not only his
songwriting ability but also his skills as a producer.

The
production has a very nice punky edge which suits both the more
electronic flavoured tracks as well as the more rock-orientated ones.
It's strength is in its simplicity and straightforward construction
that befits its cyberpunk tag quite nicely.

It may not be as
strong in terms of rock credentials as Dope Stars Inc. Nor is it as
electronically pleasing as Victor Love's solo material, but Hacking
The Wave is a nice balance of the two that strips these elements down
into a different, but nonetheless still pleasingly addictive play on
the cyberpunk formula that Love continues to explore across his
projects.

Friday, 9 October 2015

It's October! And with me being the cheesy cliché that I
am, I've already spent WAY too much on Halloween decorations – I'm
talking quality ones though, not tinsel spiders and rubber bats!

But it is a slightly bitter-sweet Halloween this year. While
on the one hand I'm stoked to actually be out and about in London for
once (as it falls on a weekend), on the other my pre-Samhain run of
horror film gorging has two sad notes to it. Firstly the loss of Sir
Christopher Lee will be hammered home as I indulge in his Dracula
films. But also the recent loss of director Wes Craven from brain
cancer has spurred me to revisit some of his works including the
'Scream' quadrillogy.

Horror is a genre that has its ups and
downs. For every single great movie there a dozen throwaway ones. Yet
Craven made his name in horror with 'The Last House On The Left',
'The Hills Have Eyes', 'A Nightmare On Elm Street', 'Scream', and
'Red Eye' standing as a testament to his skills as a director, writer
and producer. But over the years he also dabbled in lighter films
such as 'Music Of the Heart' and 'Paris, Je T'aime', as well as
releasing two books 'Fountain Society' and 'Coming Of Rage'.

Craven
may have been guilty of a few stinkers in his time, however his style
of directing and his common themes of playing with the nature of
reality have still been highly influential to this day. He seemed to
be able to tap into what the audience wanted and re-invent the horror
genre in each decade. The ultraviolent exploitation 'The Last house
On The Left' and 'The Hills Have Eyes' in the 70's. The
reality-bending slasher franchise of 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' in
the 80s, and the the self-aware de-constructed post-modernism of
'Scream' in the 90s and 2000s.

He was a real innovator who
has left a lasting legacy on cinema and will be sorely missed by fans.

Now, a couple more bits
and then you can get back to reading our reviews.

If you would
like to be part of our next compilation album, all you have to do is
check out last month's editorial. If you've not heard our previous
compilations, I thoroughly suggest you do by going to our bandcamp
page HERE.

Thursday, 8 October 2015

There's nothing
like a good split EP. The coming together of two bands who, while
often sharing some stylistic common ground, present two unique
representations of their genre in one package. These can sometimes be
a complete collaboration with unexpected results, or a more
straight-forward A-side / B-side affair to curb the costs for the
release and foster camaraderie. The new split EP from US black metal
bands Human Bodies and Leather Chalice is very much of the A-side /
B-side construction.

Both bands present two strong songs each
with Human Bodies opting for a nice and nasty couple of cuts of raw
black metal, while Leather chalice take the genre into more
experimental territory.

Human Bodies two tracks 'Only The
Sigh' and 'Malice Prepense' evoke the likes of Darkthrone and early
Satyricon with their lean and raw guitar riffs taking precedent with
a solid back bone from the drums and classic vocals.

Leather
Chalise on the other hand inject a little psychedelic occult rock
effects into 'Good Intentions (Coming Home Part One)', while 'Last
Gifts Of Worship (Coming Home Part Two) introduces some noise
elements as well.

The tracks are pretty rough and ready with
a distinct early 90s feel, yet they are completely enjoyable. They
have a pure, live feel to them that is devoid of pretense and full of
energy.

It is a short sharp shock that shows of the raw
talents of two hungry sounding bands. The songs are fierce in their
execution and full of passion. While the production may hamper some
people's enjoyment (especially those more used to modern black metal
albums), if you're able to get past that it is a decent effort.

It
has been a long time coming but finally the début proper from
Deadfilmstar has arrived. 'The Inevitable Rise & Fall Of Fake
White &The Ill Fated Tour' has been in the works since before the
previous album to have the Deadfilmstar moniker attached to it
'A.Rtistic I.Ntegrity' a sidestep into dark cyber influenced sounds
that bore little resemblance to their live presentation of a dirty
industrial rock band. After regrouping and setting out to consolidate
their name on the live circuit with support slots alongside Mortiis,
KMFDM, Gothminister, Combichrist, Orgy, and a lot of festival
appearances the band have honed their songs into a conceptual
free-fall into the dark underbelly of rock.

Musically it is a
slow and grim barrage of dirty rock with dark gritty guitars and bass
are reminiscent of 'Antichrist Superstar' era Marilyn Manson. The sound is further augmented with a liberal dose of glam metal posturing rhythms and 'Broken' era Nine Inch Nails sleazy industrial dripping from
it's lips, over which vocalist Gary hisses and growls like a madman.

Songs such as 'Soiled, Spoilt & Somewhat Flawed', 'The
Day We Lost You', 'Hello, Cruel World' and 'RockStarDead' will be
well known to anyone who has seen them live, and in their recorded
form they have lost none of that raw punch. While the likes of
'Plunged Into Morning', Fake White & A Band Called the Flies', 'A
Terrible Thing And Audience Can Make You Do', and 'It's Over
Superstar' break out atmospheric elements such as crowd noise, power
tools, water and thunder to add an extra layer of eeriness.

In
terms of production it is pretty damn good. It is dirty, gritty and
raw. Yet, at the same time it is nicely balanced between the harder
and more melodic elements. And despite what initially sounds like a
very clear and linear direction different elements of genres begin to
creep out and take the songs down new tangents while staying true to
that rock core.

It has been a while, but one of the UK's
hardest working live acts have finally got the album they deserve.
'The Inevitable Rise & Fall Of Fake White &The Ill Fated
Tour' is a sharp, gritty look into the rock 'n' roll abyss that
doesn't disappoint. Hopefully this will prove to be a launchpad for
Deadfilmstar.

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

'III' is the third full-length release (obviously) from
Belgian riff lords Sardonis. This two man atmospheric assault plays
low and heavy doom that despite its stripped down construction is
just as fat and fulfilling as any full size band could offer. The
songs are all instrumental, but this doesn't detract from them at
all. Instead there is a pure focus on the powerful riffs that is
utterly compelling.

The tracks have a nice warm analogue
sound that recalls the likes of classic acts Black Sabbath, Trouble,
Saint Vitus, and Pentagram as well as modern luminaries such as
Sleep, Electric Wizard, and Yob. The songs, despite never dropping
below the six minute mark at their shortest are compelling from start
to finish. Whether its slower numbers like 'Battering Ram' and
'Forward To The Abyss' or faster cuts such as 'The Coming Of Khan'
and 'Ruined Decay' with their nice blast beats.

The album's
finest track has to be the afore mentioned 'Forward To The Abyss'
though with its sombre intro creating a beautifully mournful
atmosphere with ease before erupting into a sludgy, bluesy trudge
through misery with just a little hint of black metal added for good
measure.

There is plenty of low-end to the band's sound and
the production captures a certain rawness to the recording that gives
it that classic feel. However it is crisp, clean and could easily
hold its own alongside some of the big names in the genre.

This
is a damn fine album. Sardonis are a refreshingly simple band that
draw all of your focus to the interplay of their two instruments.
They don't hide behind overly technical or progressive elements, and
neither do they simply let the reverb do half the work for them. This
is a doom riff master class from start to finish. There is no
bullshit, or pretence. Just hard, heavy doom metal in it's purest
distillation.

Tuesday, 6 October 2015

It has been five years since Håvard
Ellefsen AKA Mortiis' last outing on the
'Perfectly Defect' digital only album, and over ten years since the
last physical full-length studio album proper 'The Grudge'. But there
is light at the end of the tunnel with a new album in the form of
'The Great Deceiver' announced for release early next year, and to
celebrate Mortiis has unleashed a new single in the form of
'Doppelgänger' to whet our appetites.

The single caries on
the industrial rock formula that characterised 'The Grudge' and
'Perfectly Defect' with a combination of hard guitars, anguished
vocals and a steady, near dance-friendly beat liberally sprinkled
with darkly groovy synths.

The single also includes a remix
courtesy of Wumpscut which reworks the track into something that
would be quite comfortable on 'The Smell Of Rain' album, which is
never a bad thing.

Mortiis is making all the right noises
with 'Doppelgänger'. In terms of the production it sounds nice and
fresh and stirs in a little of that 90's Wax Trax! / Nothing Records
flavour for good measure.

This is a promising single that
hints at a nice and heavy, yet approachable industrial feeling
full-length album to come. Throw in the fact that the download comes
with a copy of the cool accompanying promotional music video, and
this release is well worth checking out.

Victor Love has been damn busy
this year. Between a new Dope Stars Inc. album, his new solo project
and all his other projects, he's now delving into the archives to
create a definitive anniversary edition of 'Neuromance' as well as
this EP which features one unreleased song plus the band's tracks
that were featured on the soundtracks to the Saw films. It is clear
that Love is a man on a mission at the moment and long may it
continue.

'The Saw Saga' may not have much in the way of new
material, but as a free release it is one that still has plenty of
meat on its bones. The previously unreleased 'I Won't Feel' is a
solid quiet-loud track that is solid single material that for some
reason didn't see the light of day along with the rest of the
'TeraPunk' material. 'Make A Star' was one of the best cuts from the
'Neuromance' album with it's big single feel. While 'Getting Closer'
is a harder and more riotous anthem that spikes the adrenalin.
Finally Beatcrusher' from 'Gigahearts' injects more of the synths for
that unmistakeable cyber feel that Dope Stars Inc. have perfected.

Despite the tracks coming from different album sessions they
all flow together quite nicely. The quality of the production is
pretty constant and this feels like an EP of new material rather than
a trip into the archives.

It may be one for the fans more
than anything else, but this is still a pretty solid EP by anyone's
standards. There are three tried and tested great songs, and one
brand new one that arguable deserved to be released sooner. But best
of all, it's free and it begs the question as to what gems Love has
unearthed for the anniversary re-release of 'Neuromance'?

If any album was the epitome of a difficult birth
then it was Coil's 'Backwards'. First conceived 23 years ago as the
follow-up to 1990's seminal 'Love's Secret Domain', the album was in
a production limbo originally slated for a 1993 release on Torso
Records, but then after further studio sessions it was earmarked for
a release on Nothing Records. The demos eventually emerged as a
studio bootleg, but the album proper never appeared. The music saw
release in a heavily altered form on 2005's 'The Ape Of Naples' and
then as the remixed and reworked 'The New Backwards' in 2008. Finally
though, thanks to Danny Hyde, the album sees an official release as
originally intended.

With its heavily experimental and dark
ambient leanings the album is a bridge of sorts between 'Love's
Secret Domain' and 'Music To Play In The Dark'. The album sees a
stunning collection of vocal performances from the late Jhonn Balance
which are simply haunting. Tracks such as 'Backwards', ‘A Cold
Cell’, and ‘Fire Of The Mind’ will be familiar to fans having
appeared on 'Live Three' and various compilations respectively. But
this release showcases the tracks as they were supposed to be heard.

The songs on display on 'Backwards' such as the afore
mentioned three, as well as the sombre cuts 'Amber Rain',
'CopaCaballa' and 'Paint Me As A Dead Soul', the schizophrenic
rhythms of 'Be Careful What You Wish For' and 'AYOR (It's In My
Blood), and the near psychedelic 'Heaven's Blade' are all undeniably
strong tracks that are long overdue an official inclusion in the Coil
canon.

The production is kind of in keeping with the band's
early-to-mid 90's output. Rough, experimental, but hypnotically
beautiful. It's been mastered well but it feels very much of its era
and not an attempt at a full overhaul of the original recordings. In
that respect it is very satisfying and sounds right at home amongst
the band's 90's releases.

'Backwards' needed an official
release. Coil is too much of an important band to have great
unreleased albums like this that aren't in the public arena to be
listened to and exert an influence on the next generation of
electronic artists. If you are a hardcore fan who has been waiting
for this release to complete your collection, you won't be
disappointed. Neither will you be disappointed if you are new to the
band and still exploring their interplay of light and dark as this
release is a fine example of Coil walking the line between
experimental and commercial. Quite simply, it has been worth the
wait.